SYDNEY – Once the fight hit the mat, T.J. Waldburger was in his element.

After scoring an early takedown on fellow welterweight Jake Hecht, Waldburger torqued a brutal armbar that prompted a quick tap-out from his stunned opponent.

The preliminary-card bout was part of tonight’s UFC on FX 2 event at Sydney’s Allphones Arena. It aired on FUEL TV prior to the night’s FX-televised main card.

Waldburger, fighting for the first time since a “Submission of the Night” victory over Mike Stumpf at UFC Fight Night 25, traded punches but scored the trip-takedown early. With Hecht on his knees, Waldburger had the position for an armbar and grabbed it.

Hecht frantically tried to scramble and roll to free himself, but Waldburger had a vice-like grip. The tap-out came just 55 seconds into the fight.

“He gave me an arm, and I took it,” said Waldburger, who “shamelessly” campaigned for a second straight submission bonus.

After the fight, he took time to thank the fans.

“I love this sport,” he said. “I love everything about it. We’re here to put on a show for you guys. I don’t like going the distance. I like putting on a show.”

Waldburger (15-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) moves to 6-1 in his past seven fights with the victory, which also marked his 12th submission win. Hecht (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) snaps a four-fight win streak that included a UFC-debut win over Rich Attonito in December.

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